The Best Summer Jobs for College Students to Try this Year

Many students face financial difficulties through their college semesters. Though you might not have enough time to dedicate to a job while having classes every day, summer break allows you to work full time and make much more money. But what are the best summer jobs for college students? We have prepared the list of the best seasonal jobs that not only provide good payment but also will let you enjoy your summer.

What to Expect?

Temporary jobs are widespread among students. Such jobs allow getting a great experience and improving skills while also making money. If you are looking for a temporary job, you should be prepared for some pitfalls that might occur:

Most of the temporary jobs pay less compared to long-term employment.

The benefits such as paid sick days will depend on the company.

The employment time might last less or more than your summer break.

So, when looking for a job, make sure to specify all the details on a job interview, including your salary, working schedule, the period they hire you for, etc.

Eventually, most of the students get their summer jobs without complications as employers are glad to offer seasonal jobs in summer, especially if their business depends on the season too. For example, swimming pools, amusement parks, and some event agencies have more clients in summer, so they offer a lot of seasonal work vacancies starting from spring.

Let’s have a look at the most common vacancies and types of summer jobs for college and high school students.

1. Swimming Pool Lifeguard

When talking about summer jobs for college students, it’s impossible not to mention swimming pool lifeguards. This job comes to mind first thanks to the countless TV shows and movies showing college students enjoying their summer days while working. This might seem a real dream job as all you have to do is to stay near the pool for the whole shift making sure that everyone in the pool is safe.

If you enjoy being outdoors and can pass the guard test (for example, you should be a good swimmer), this job is just for you. You won’t need to sit in the hot office, staring at the monitor, which the majority of people try to avoid, especially during summer months.

How to get a job: first of all you have to attend lifeguarding and water safety training courses. Such courses usually take from 3 to 4 days, you can sign up for them any time as organizations like Red Cross hold them through the whole year.

2. Summer Camp Counselor

A camp counselor is a perfect summer job for students who love outdoor activities and working with kids. As a counselor, you will have to schedule activities for kids, implement educational and entertaining programs, be a leader and a role model to make sure that kids have the best summer.

This job is not easy but is, without any doubts, fun and useful for students’ self-development and future careers. For example, as a counselor you will get the following skills:

Time-management skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Leadership skills

You will also get to meet new people, spend your summer mostly outdoors and receive a competitive salary for your work. If you are looking for a job to save money for college, check out some tips on what you also can do to graduate without debt.

How to get a job: look for advertisements in specialized centers. For example, American Camp Association (ACA). There are no specific requirements for the applicants but the First Aid Certification would be an advantage.

3. Pet Sitter

A pet sitter takes care of the pets while their owners are on vacations or at work. Students who love taking care of animals will enjoy this job as well as working as a pet shop worker.

This job is more on the part-time side, and we mentioned it in our list of well-paid part-time jobs college students can get.By the way, you should totally check this list out. Anyway, this job can be your summer hustle as most people leave for vacations in summer so you will have more opportunities to make some extra cash.

How to get a job: place your advertisement on local job boards or freelance platforms. You can also ask a local pet store to recommend your service to their customers.

4. Paid Intern

Usually internship means that you are not paid for your service but instead, you get the experience that will be useful for your career. This is a great chance to apply in practice the theoretical knowledge that you have received in your learning institution.

But sometimes you can find a place that combines both a great opportunity to get priceless experience and also get paid for your job. Paid internship spots are rare and get quickly occupied by students, but you definitely should try searching for one in your location. Summer internships can be offered in different spheres including medicine, real estate, manufacturing, media, etc.

5. Movie Theater Cashier

This is one more example of a common summer job for students. Movie theaters usually have a few job offers in summer so you can try to apply for a cashier vacancy. This job is not among the high paying ones, but you will have an opportunity to watch movie premiers before your classmates сan do this. Moreover, movie theaters offer flexible working schedules and great social packages.

You can also apply for cashier in your nearest store or mall. Cashier job is one of the jobs for college students with no experience – you just need to be attentive and responsible. Consider this job if you love working with people and have a great deal of patience to stay in the same spot for the whole working shift.

6. Food Delivery Driver

Food delivery is one of the most increasingly developing spheres, especially in big cities. It’s convenient and time-efficient, that’s why many restaurants establish delivery services. A driver license, in this case, is a great bonus that helps you to increase your chances of getting a better place with a higher salary.

Everything will depend on the place you work for and the effort you put in your work. The more deliveries you make per day – the more profit. If you need some help withfinance tracking or with scheduling your day, check out the best planner apps for your phone.

How to get a job: check the nearest pizza places, they are probably hiring students who can drive a car or a motorbike.

7. Receptionist

People who greet visitors at the entrance of the beauty salon, gym or hotel are called receptionists. They usually take calls, take care of clients and keep the records of the visitors. If you can genuinely smile all day long and keep patience, this job is for you.

How to get a job: look for job advertisements on specialized platforms or check the nearest gym, they might be hiring.

Wrapping Up

If you are looking for a summer job, you should definitely check the nearest locations first – coffee shops, malls, post offices, etc. They might offer some great options for different working schedules and salaries. The benefit is clear – you won’t have to spend too much time or money getting to work. By the way, you might like the place that you already know better than the others.

Also, check advertisements on social media and your college bulletin boards – employers who are willing to hire students for summer often reach communities, groups, and clubs to find employees. Be sure to find the place for summer beforehand – the majority of good-paying college student jobs are taken before you even notice that.